By Alesha Capone
Gabe Tirabassi began volunteering at the Werribee Men’s Shed eight years ago, and he has not looked back since.
Mr Tirabassi, of Wyndham Vale, taught welding and metal fabrication at Victoria University for about 29 years before he retired.
In 2011, a former colleague contacted Mr Tirabassi to ask if he would teach welding at the Men’s Shed.
“I eventually said yes and now I can’t get away from the place,” Mr Tirabassi said with a laugh.
“I just love it and the company’s fantastic … everyone gets along well.”
Mr Tirabassi volunteers at the Men’s Shed three days a week. He has also established a program to teach women welding, which runs on Monday mornings.
Mr Tirabassi said anyone interested in learning the craft – or even just wanting some companionship – could attend courses at the Men’s Shed, without needing prior experience.
“We do a lot of community work, people bring in things to repair, and we also build things,” he said.
He said participants in the shed’s welding and wordworking classes often make artworks out of recycled materials, which are sold to raise funds for the Men’s Shed.
Among Mr Tirabassi’s sculptural artworks are a metal snake, a unicorn rocking horse, plus replicas of the Sydney Harbour Bridge and Eiffel Tower.
Two globes he created, one made of 96 bicycle sprockets, hang from the ceiling of a community centre near the Men’s Shed.
See www.facebook.com/werribeemensshed for details.
